Awning fixture



Feb. 19, 1935. R; p BESSY 1,991,358

AWNING FIXTURE Filed Nov. 3, A1931 1N VENTOR.

. /faje R565@ Patented Feb. 19, 1935 1,991,35'arv l i AWNING FIXTURE -l l f Roger I. Bessy, Detroit, Mich., assigner to'Michi-` n gan Tent and Awning.Con 1pany,`Detrot,- Mich.,` a corporation of Michigan Applicationy November4 3,

r6 Claims. (01:1456-15) This invention relates to awning xturesand particularly to iixturesfor securing the head vof an awning toa wallor otherfsupport.

An object of the invention is to provide for securing an yawning headin place without imposing direct clamping stresses on said head and so as to distribute the awning load evenly to the head throughout the length thereof.

Another object is to provide a fixture with which, when installed, an awning head may be quickly and readily engaged or disengaged without dismounting the fixture.

A further object is to provide a fixture vfor mounting an awning head, affording support to the entire length of the head, and adapted to be formed by a rolling or drawing process in stock lengths, which may be cut to accommodate any desired awning.

Further objects are to provide a tubular awning head fixture, adapted-to shield an engaged awning head from the weather, to provide brackets for clamping said fixture firmly to a support, while permitting quick removal of the fixture, and to produce a weather-tight joint between the fixture and support.

I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing,.in which f- Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the improved fixture, engaged by the head portion of an awning and secured to a support of brick, or the like.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional View of the same taken upon the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the fixture attached to a` wooden support.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the same.

In these views, the reference character 1 designates an awning, formed ordinarily of canvas or other suitable fabric, and formed coextensively with its head margin with a hem 2, wherein is inserted an elongated supporting element, such as the rope 3.

The awning head, together with said rope, is insertable in an elongated tubular fixture or retainer 4, preferably of a substantially triangular cross section. This retainer is slotted from end to end thereof, as indicated at 5, the awning extending through the slot, and'inclining forwardly and downwardly, as is common practice. Prefer ably the vslot 5 opens downwardly, minimizing access of moisture thereto, this purpose being further served by locating said slot between a wall 55 6 of the retainer, vertically seating against a support `'1, and the lower edge ofi an opposed iny clinedvwall 8.' ZThewidth of saidslot is such as to freely accommodate the awning while affording no escape to the hem;2,.as expanded bythe rope 3. The wall` 6 islpreferablyextended some dis-14v 5A tance below ithetubular portion ofl the retainery for engagement by'screws 9 or the like, when the retainer ,isinstalled' upon a wooden support, as -is shown-in: Fig...4, openings being drilled `for said screws wherever required.

To attach the retainer tol a brick support, it is preferred to employ a plurality of brackets 10, downwardly hooked to snugly engage the front portion of the retainer, and having upstanding rear portions which are clamped to said support by wing nuts 11 engaging lag screws 12 or the like, set into the support, and projecting through said. brackets.

Regardless of the naturek of the support, it is preferred to slightly concave the seating face of the wall 6 between the upper and lower edges of said wall, sok that said edges will tend to'bite into the support when a clamping stress is applied by the screws 9 or wing nuts 11. Thus any flow of water or passage of dust down the face of the support past the retainer is prohibited.

When the retainer is mounted against a surface of rough brick, it is desirable to establish an additional weather seal by inserting a strip 13 of rubber or other compressible packing in the con-- cavity of the Wall 6 (see Fig. 2); y

To minimize the weight of the described retainer and thus facilitate its installation, it is preferred to form said retainer of aluminum or other light metal.

It is apparent that a retainer of the illustrated cross section maybe readily produced from strip sheet material by a rolling or drawing process, lending itself to low cost quantity production. The bars so formed may be readily cut to produce retainers of any desired length.

Many awnings are `taken down in the fall of the year and replaced in the spring. The described provision for mounting an awning greatly reduces the labor of removal and replacement, as compared to present practice.

The invention is submitted as including all such modifications and changes as come within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. In an awning xture, the combination with an awning having a supporting enlargement upon and substantially coextensive with its head portion, of a tubular retainer for said head portion slotted from end to end thereof to a width freely accommodating said awning, but less than the thickness of said enlargement, said slot permitting endwise insertion of said enlargement in the retainer, while preventing withdrawal of the enlargement under load of the awning, and a plurality of brackets for mounting the retainer on a support hooked for clamping engagement with said retainer.

2. In awning itune, the:` combiatiomiwith' an awning, having a supporting enlargement upon and substantially coextensive with its head@ portion, of a tubular retainer for said head p ortion slotted from end to end thereof to *a-widtl' freely accommodating said awniiiiig;7 but.lessthani the thickness of said en1argmnt,1,saidislot-,per.- mitting endwise insertion of said enlargement im. the retainer, While preventinggwithdrawal of the` enlargement under load of thleawninga'plrahty" of brackets disposed above the retainer andlmwn wardly hooked to engage and clamp the retainer, and each' formed lwithl'an:lulmwardpvx:ojectione en 'f gageableby'fa -1fastener;wherebysaid bracketsaare'i attachable 'tof-afsuppovts L i 32 An awning; head1 retainer, comprising. an; elongated tubular ymember;,havinge` anoinnen. am outer;A and ia topf-wall?,i the inneri and'top; having` a4 substantially 'rectangulaire relationA toy, eacl'- other,y andith'e-fouter fwalli sbeingsdiagonaiito 1; the inner and 'top walls' andsbeing spaced fromitli'e.:

inner Wall to accommodate an awning, and the inner Wall being downwardly extended beyond the outer wall for engagement by securing means.

4. An open ended tubular retainer for a supporting enlargement upon and substantially coextensive with the head portion of an awning, said retainer being slotted from end to end thereof.: to Jac'width, freelyyaccoxmnodating-ftheeawning, butrless thanithie `thickness-,of theeenlargement, whereby the enlargement is endwise insertable im the retainer, said retainer being formed throughout substantially its entire length With a-seating-'face and with projections at the longitudinal-margins Vof..suchr face, forming acute anglesorlibitingfinto `afseat engaged by such face.

5am.1 opemended: tubular retainer as set forth in claim 4, ,theseatingL face being concaved betweenits-lngitudinal-margins and said acute anglessbeing formed by the intersections of the seating face with the topv and bottom faces of the retainer:

6.1,Ani`ropen ended.' ftubularrretaineri asrset 'frthl;v in claim 4, thewseatingrfaceibeingconcavecl-be-f tween: its ilongitudinalim'argnsfan'd 'said-.acute-fanglesfbeingiformedr by the. intersections of Ssaicl1 'face- Wth* thevtoplfandbottom facessoi'thei retai-rirer;`

thefconcavityiof l'the :seating facer-forming apack' ing chamber.'

` ROGERf-Z P." BESSY? 

